GaySA Radio needs your donation to keep
broadcasting to the world.
Since starting its online radio service
more than a year ago, the unpaid volunteers at GaySA Radio have had to fund
their participation in this unique radio station out of their own pockets. The
presenters come from various parts of Gauteng and each of them has subsidised
their own participation.
When the team took on hate-speaking pastor
Steven Anderson last year (and won!), they did this with no resources, except
sheer determination. They won the case with the help of the pro bono service of
Attorney Coenraad Kukkuk. All the costs of the station have so far been carried
by the founding members, who have dug deep into their own pockets to pay for
the various costs to keep the station operational, including internet,
streaming, telephone, equipment, and so on.
The only funds that have been donated to
the station have been in the form of a small grant for the US Embassy in
Pretoria, which helped the station stay operational for a period of three
months. The Department of Communications has indicated that they do not fund
Internet radio, so there seems to be no help from government.
GaySA Radio provides an important voice for
the still much-persecuted lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer plus
(LGBTQ) community, who in recent weeks has seen a spike in violence and murders
perpetrated against this still mainly marginalized community. Through its
various programmes, GaySA Radio addresses various aspects of importance to the
community, while playing an important activist role.
GaySA Radio needs the support of the
community to grow its service and to eventually obtain a frequency from the
Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA). ICASA is not
currently giving out licenses because of a whole range of problems, but as soon
as they do reopen the process GaySA Radio wants to be strong enough to stand at
the front of the queue to get onto terrestrial radio nationwide. The Internet
has enabled GaySA Radio to reach listeners in 194 countries, proving this is a
much needed global service.
To strengthen the station, GaySA Radio is
launching it fundraising efforts. As a registered non-profit (NPO 181-316), all
donations are tax deductible. In order to relieve its most pressing cash flow
problems, the station is asking people to give up just one good bottle of wine
for the month and instead donate at least R100 into the station’s bank account.
As it costs roughly R30,000 per month to keep the station running in its
present format, only 1,000 people are needed to make a small donation of R100
each to keep the lights (and Internet) on for the next three months
More exciting fundraising efforts are
currently being planned, which include events at LGBTQ+ venues, working
together with theatre productions, a raffle where you can win accommodation in
a guesthouse and a Gaymazing Race (more details real soon!)
For the moment, however, GaySA Radio is
asking two things: A small donation of R100 to be paid into the NPO bank
account; and that you start listening to GaySA Radio if you have Internet
access. Only by growing the station from inside and out will we have a solid
chance of getting an ICASA license.
Support the LGBTQ+ community by adding your
voice to that of GaySA Radio.
Bank
account details: GaySA Radio Thando, FNB, Branch 251037, Cheque account
62696183624.
GaySA
Radio is Africa’s only online LGBTQ+ radio station, transmitting over the
Internet on http://gaysaradio.ndstream.net and on the smartphone app available for
iPhone, Android and BlackBerry from www.gaysaradio.co.za/ways-to-listen. You can also advertise on GaySA Radio, email info@gaysaradio.co.za for the rate card.
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